Chances are you may have seen the Facebook pop-up which asks you to update your privacy settings. In an ideal world these changes would be for the benefit of the user but, Facebook has changed it's privacy options in order to allow more information to be shared online. Their hope is that users will allow more of their information to be viewed by the masses and keep less information to themselves and specific friends.
These changes are not for the individual user's benefit. They are about generating more users and maximizing advertising. Facebook is hoping that the user will stay with the default settings given, in the security pop-up, and not change them to the "Old Settings" option provided.
Facebook insists that it has gone out of its way to inform its users that the privacy settings were changing. It also points out that the privacy settings can be kept, just as they are now if the user specifies that they are to be kept. The problem in the eyes of the user groups is that the default or recommended settings opens the profiles up to many more viewers.
Bottom Line; Do not keep the recommended settings, but do check the boxes to keep your old settings intact.Routinely check your privacy settings.
Managing passwords is a daunting feat, even in this day and age of one-click password programs. And, especially in this day, where every site or service wants you to create an account with a user name and password. That is why I have used the following password maintenance plan for the last 20 years, and still believe it to be beneficial today.
Start by creating five tiers for password usage. Number 5 is the highest level and hardest, most secure password. Number 1 is the easiest to remember password that is used on the least secure situations. Never write any of these passwords down. The point is to make them easy for you to remember, but difficult for others to guess.
Computer username and password, is your highest level security and should be a minimum of 8 to 15 alpha-numeric characters with some caps. Do not use real words in and of themselves, or numeric sequences. One way to make this password or any other password would be to open the dictionary or the phonebook and blindly pick a listing. You might come out with "lawnmower" either on page 944, or with 944 in phone number.
Now change characters in the word to something similar to "L4wNm0w3R944", or "L4wN944m0w3R". I now have two different passwords that can be used in any of the top tiers of my security system. The first makes the second easier to remember and visa versa. (please note that this is only an example and you should create your own passwords). In order to make some passwords easier to remember, start with the highest level and then pare down to use for a less secure level.
Also, make up different usernames for each level of security. This will not only make it easier to remember the individual passwords, but makes it more difficult for a hacker to break into your accounts, since they will have to decrypt the user name and password.
5. Highest level of security is reserved for your computer name and password. You and only you know this password and it is never written down or given to ANY other person. It could be one of the two passwords similar to the example above. It should be changed or twice a year or more frequently.
4. Second highest level for use on Company business account and/or your email account. Never write this password down, or give it away. It should be changed once or twice a year.
3. This is the password used to log into other hardware in your home, such as a router or a server. This password should be changed at least once a year. Levels three an four might be reversed for some users, as they may feel that the router is more important than email. This is up to the individual.
2. Third highest level is the password used for most social networking site(s). If you allow your browser to save passwords, then this password should be changed very frequently.
1. Lowest level of security, should be a minimum of 6 to 8 alpha-numeric characters, and is nothing similar to any of the other security level passwords. This is your throw away password. This is the password used when registering on websites, etc, in which you may only need to log on once, in order to redeem some special discount, etc.
I also use a throw away user name and password below number 1. I have no worries about having this account compromised. I have a made up name and password that I use when I am unsure of a websites, authenticity and or spam policies. If I start getting unsolicited mail, etc. directed to this username, I know that one of those sites has given it out, and I throw it away and make up another.
I don't know, does your computer have virus symptoms? Use this information to diagnose and prevent infection of your own computer. Or, you could ask using "please". :?)
Common malware infection symptoms may include:
Your computer seems significantly slow.
Home page in web browser changed automatically.
Strange problems within Windows – things just don’t seem to work normal.
Unknown icons on your desktop.
Excessive pop-up activity.
Unusual messages that display warnings on your screen and prompt you to immediately purchase random software to clean-up the problems.
The connection lights on your high speed modem blink excessively, even though your not using the internet.
Common items such as the start button, mouse pointer, desktop icons, etc disappear from the screen.
Preventative steps include:
Install a proven security software suite. When shopping for security software make sure that it includes firewall protection.
Run a complete virus scan on the computer weekly. This operation is performed through your security software, many of which also offer the ability to schedule automatic scanning.
Make sure that the virus definitions for your security software are up to date. Most security software is setup to automatically update the definitions, but some require user initiation of updates.
Be sure to renew your security software subscriptions. If you purchased your security software, the subscription is typically valid for one year, at which time the subscription must be renewed, or the software will fail to work properly, thus leaving your computer system vulnerable to malware attacks.
Run Windows Updates. This can be setup to happen automatically or manually. Either option is the user’s choice, but the updates need to be downloaded and installed. These updates can close the door to many potential threats to your computer’s operating system and programs.
Be careful and cautious with Internet use. Clicking on every “free” offer that is available will put you at risk for malware infections. Freeware software not only gives you “free” use of the software, but can also initiate “free” excessive pop-ups and other malicious activity that the user is commonly unaware of. It is always good practice to purchase needed software from a trusted vendor.
Caution should also be practiced when opening email. Only open email or except attachments from trusted sources, and delete any items that you are unsure about.
Usually if a Facebook user is in your friends list, the likelihood of it being a scammer is very low. There have been instances of hacked user accounts, but usually this is done by someone who knows the user and may be playing a trick on them. We hope.
The issue now is someone or 'ones' is creating fake Facebook accounts and using them to distribute malware. This is usually done with a link to a video. Normally you get a pop-up that tells you to download additional software to view the video. Wala, you just downloaded malware that can completely take over your computer or render it nearly useless.
In a statement, a Facebook spokesperson said, “We’re working to identify the handful of fake accounts that were created and disable them. The URL contained in the profiles has already been blacklisted by the major web browsers and blocked from being shared on Facebook. We use an outside captcha company called reCAPTCHA (http://recaptcha.net), which was recently acquired by Google and is a very well-regarded captcha provider.
To beat hackers, do at least these three things;
• MAKE SURE YOUR PASSWORD is at least 8 - alpha and numeric characters in length and does not spell anything, and/or contain a sequence of numbers or letters.
• NEVER accept friend requests from people you don't know. Some people try to get as many 'friends' as they can, but the downside could be getting your account hacked.
• NEVER OPEN or authorize your computer/program to open any file that you ARE NOT CERTAIN IS SAFE. If a web page asks you to download something to view their page, it probably is not a kosher request.
Adobe addressed a list of 29 security-related flaws in Acrobat 9 and Adobe Reader 9 this week.
Adobe calls the new 9.2 updater fixes critical for security issues that for both Mac and Windows users. According to an Adobe security bulletin, "These vulnerabilities could cause the application to crash and could potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system.
" The security issues also affect older versions of Acrobat and Adobe Reader. Since some users aren't able to upgrade to Acrobat 9 or Adobe Reader 9, the company released Acrobat 8.1.7 and 7.1.4 along with Adobe Reader 8.1.7 and 7.1.4. The updates are available for download at the Adobe Support Web site.
The Adobe support site is "a little bit" confusing to navigate and determine the right update for your computer and operating system, But... the easiest way to upgrade your copy of Acrobat or Acrobat Reader is to launch the program, Click on the "Help" pull down, and choose "Check for Updates".
I've written about hacked Facebook accounts on several occasions. Typically the hacker compromises the user account. Now due to Adobe security vulnerabilities many are getting caught on the wrong side of the tracks when it comes to internet and computer security.
Hacked Facebook accounts are not unusual but Roger Thompson, chief research officer at AVG, says "this is the first time I've seen Facebook applications hacked," and said the firm traced back several Facebook applications that had been hacked, to a Russian site which appears to be taking advantage of the compromised Facebook applications to launch attacks against victims' computers based on unpatched Adobe software vulnerabilities.
Several Facebook apps seem to be vulnerable to the unpatched Adobe software hack. the first encounter was with the application CityFireDepartment. In addition to CityFireDepartment, which AVG is cautioning Facebook users not to visit until "it's cleaned up," Thompson says. Other compromised Facebook applications also include MyGirlySpace, Ferraritone, Mashpro, Mynameis, Pass-it-on, Fillinthe and Aquariumlife.
If your computer does not have the Adobe patch to plug the exploit, and you are using one of these applications, then, it's installing the exploit, initially rogue antispyware but probably also a Trojan," Thompson says. AVG has informed Facebook directly about AVG's findings but he noted it's not simple to identify who maintains each of the Facebook applications.
Thompson has chronicled AVG's findings in a blog item. The attack site, which appears to be in Russia, may also be associated with several other Web-based attacks, he adds.
The bottom line is; The Adobe support site is "a little bit" confusing to navigate and determine the right update for your computer and operating system, But... the easiest way to upgrade your copy of Acrobat or Acrobat Reader is to launch the program, Click on the "Help" pull down, and choose "Check for Updates".
Internet security is more about what you do to protect yourself than what anti-virus program you happen to use. Lifehack has a list of 8 keys to Internet security, and it serves as a good reminder about how to keep your PC, your data, and your identity safe online.
Be sure to check out the article for all the details, but here are the best bits:
Use a router. A router acts as a hardware firewall to compliment your software firewall. You should use one, even if your internet provider provides a cable or other connection modem.
Don’t open attachments. This is SO obvious, but people just ignore it anyway. Unless you know who sent you the email, you should discard the message immediately and NEVER open an attachment from someone you don't know.
Don’t click links in e-mail. There is just no good reasons to click a link in an email message from any of the professional businesses you deal with. Why would you need to click a link in message from your bank? Open your web browser and navigate to the Web site from your favorites to avoid phishing scams. Hyperlinks are just way too risky.
Install all software security updates. Make sure that your computer is always up to date with the latest operating system updates. Let Microsoft and Windows Update do its thing. You should set your anti-virus program to automatically update it's definitions on a daily basis as well.
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